Album for the Month for March: Houses of the Holy

Led Zeppelin were at the top of their game. IV brought the band to higher places than they could ever imagine so they decided to go in a newer direction. They experimented more with rock sounds and different equipment to create their most unique work to date. The first album either not named after the band or to be left without a name all together, Houses of the Holy holds some of Led Zeppelin's best pure rock songs and is one of the more underrated albums in their catalog.

Release Date: March 28, 1973
Highest Billboard Chart Position: 1
Sales Status: 11x Platinum
Other Distinctions: #149 on Rolling Stones' 500 Greatest Albums

Track Listing
1. The Song Remains the Same
One of the other songs that Jimmy used the double neck guitar in concert, it was originally an instrumental track that eventually got vocals from Robert. He wrote lyrics based on the idea that there is a universal need for music in the world. This song exemplifies Jimmy's use of guitar overdubs and his ability to create multiple layers in a song. The title of the song also ended up being the title for the concert film released in 1976. Both on the album and in concert it acts as an intro to...

2. The Rain Song
This track is one of the most underrated songs in Led Zeppelin history. Jimmy combines his electric guitar with some fantastic acoustic guitar overdubs throughout the song. Robert's vocals start very soft and soothing but he turns up the power near the end when he punches the final verse for a powerful effect. Jones adds in a fine synth background that carries the song through the lengthy instrumental middle portion. The song is best known as Robert's dream sequence from The Song Remains the Same where he gets to act as the epic hero from the middle ages.

3. Over the Hills and Far Away
My personal favorite Led Zeppelin song hands down. Each member plays a vital role and completely dominates in this song. Robert's vocals start soft once again but quickly rise to prominence to get the song moving. Jimmy's guitar parts are outstanding from start to finish and he adds in a great solo that is somewhat outside the box for his work. Jones' bassline and Bonzo's intense drums bring the song together. Somehow each extremely complex part came together to create a powerful song that I can't get enough of. Later, when Robert's voice could no longer hit the high notes, he had to sing an octave lower and switched the beginning to more of a spoken part. The studio version, however, is definitely a highlight of the album.

4. The Crunge
One of the stranger songs Zeppelin ever wrote, it brings in a heavy funk influence from Jones' bassline. Robert gets to have fun as he dances through the lyrics and strains his voice in just the right way for added effect. It was mostly used live in "Whole Lotta Love" and "Dazed and Confused" medleys.

5. Dancing Days
Live, Robert said that this song is about "summer time and good things". It is more of a standard tune with no particular identifying features that would jump out however the band was so happy with the outcome that they were dancing to it after they recorded it successfully.

6. D'Yer Maker
It's pronounced JA-maker. Just getting that out of the way. It's best remembered as being Zeppelin's reggae track. Robert and the band was influenced by reggae sounds (he would later cover Bob Marley's "Lively Up Yourself" during solo concerts). The song actually started as a 50's doo-wop beat from Bonzo that was shifted more into a reggae sound. It wasn't received well by fans and never found its way on stage.

7. No Quarter
This is John Paul Jones' song. He claimed very few songs in his Zeppelin days but this certainly has his name written all over it. Outside the box, deep, dark, and moody all show how Jones put his stamp on the song. It begins with a slow syth that sets the depressing mood and Bonzo's drum pattern along with Jimmy's guitar only add on to the despair. Since the song's title is based on a military ritual of fighting to the death, Robert's lyrics reflect the emotions of the situation and speak of "walking side by side with death/the devil mocks at every step". One of the more unique songs Zeppelin recorded, Robert still uses it frequently today and the band played it regularly during live performances. One version of the song lasted a grand total of 36 minutes, which exceeds the regular length of the live "Dazed and Confused" on both and How the West Was Won and The Song Remains the Same by almost ten minutes.

8. The Ocean
The start to the song is a bit of a joke that carried over to live shows. Bonzo can be faintly heard saying, "We've done 4 already, but now we're steady, and then they went 1,2,3,4". It referred to the fact they kept messing it up so he wanted it to come out right. He took it onstage with him later and can be seen saying it on the Led Zeppelin DVD. It's one of the Jimmy's more straightforward but better known guitar riffs. Robert's lyrics at one point refer to a girl who took his heart at 3 years old. He speaks of his daughter who was three years old at the time of recording. When they played it live he always used her current age. In the studio version you can hear a phone ringing in the background around 2 minutes in that never seemed to be taken out. Also the lyrics printed for the album cover are incorrect because the phrase "the hellhound" was changed to a nonsense lyric.

Interesting fact: The album release was pushed back various times due to issues with the album sleeve. First, the photo shoot went poorly after weather conditions did not permit the correct pictures to be taken. Second, many thought the use of children (a naked brother and sister were used) was in poor taste. Spain and some parts of the Southern US banned the album due to the questionable cover content that clearly showed children's buttocks. This album was also the second time the band kept their name off the cover although the wrapping was permitted to include the name in some places.